Family Engagement and Family Literacy

A Duo for a Strong School Foundation

By Rebecca A. Palacios

Family engagement and family literacy are two of the most important keys, or components, for building a strong foundation for children’s academic success. In the years from birth through prekindergarten—before your child even sets foot in an academic school setting—you are their first and most important teacher.

Family engagement is about spending quality time with your child every day: talking, playing, and asking questions. As you interact, you build bonds and promote your child’s language development. Many of our earliest memories are of spending time with loved ones and doing things together. This engagement can be whatever you enjoy: reading together, taking walks, gardening, caring for pets, playing games, cooking together, or singing together. While these activities might seem more natural with three- and four-year-olds, little ones from birth through age two also need you to read, sing, and talk to them—just as much as they need your smiles, kisses, and hugs. Through these warm interactions, you’ll also be teaching your child how to talk. Listening to you is how babies and young children learn patterns of language and vocabulary.

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